johnmdemarco posted on March 09, 2011 17:15
Pain—whether physical, emotional or spiritual—is a regular part of life. I’ve noticed that I have basically three responses when I experience it.
Resist: I can fight back against the pain and deny its right to exist, becoming rather agitated and aggressive in my words or actions. This tactic usually tends to exacerbate the pain and hurt those around me. The result, ultimately, is shame and fear.
Escape: I can lose myself in ostensibly comforting activities that create a temporary and illusionary relief from the pain. These usually exacerbate the pain as well and result, again, in shame and fear.
Submit to God: This is the third way, the better way. It’s about seeing things for what they are, and becoming more self-aware and God-aware in the process: through prayer, reaching out, building relationships, studying, serving others, worshiping God. The result is becoming profoundly aware of the presence of God in the midst of pain and suffering, and the even greater results are peace and joy.
Here, in this third and better way, pain becomes a gateway to healing rather than a dead-end street of escalating pain. Pain will certainly continue in some form at various degrees at the human level, but the abiding peace makes our lives about so much more than just the pain.
Today begins the season of Lent, a time of reflection on the many sorrows—and great deal of pain—absorbed by Jesus in his ministry of healing, hope and salvation. Jesus showed no resistance and no escapism, but humbled himself and submitted to God. And now the peace of God, available through Christ, guards our hearts and minds as we endure earthly sufferings.